Thursday, December 15, 2016

Onto Plan B with the Apron

Now I have an
idea to write a monologue for a female actor/singer who could read the letters
(or portions of them) as she meanders through the costumes — again in an open
space and not in a traditional theatre. With only one performer and a director,
it could be done cheaply.

I had lunch
yesterday with a “desk” of alumni and I sat beside Fraser. He’s a superb guy
whom I have always liked (but never really known) since high school. Whenever
our paths have crossed, it has always been a delight.

He knew how many
steps it took to climb his driveway and the angle of the clime and he has
decided to sell his boat because of all it takes to maintain it. So, as he
said, he life is in adjustment. “And sometimes I don’t know what to do with
myself,” he said. So we talked about that and that is how I told him about my
dresses. That’s how this whole Defiant
Dress project got started.

He had a
visible and strong reaction to the dresses. Late last night I got an email
asking for photos so he could show his wife, Cathy. I have to say, that is
pretty much the usual response so I am encouraged to have a show and if I could
write a monologue for it — and I think I could enjoy that — I could handle
something that simple and small. Plus, I’d recoup my costs.

I’m really
proud of the apron. Whereas others react more than anything else to the
cardinal, for me it’s the apron and it's the apron because of the story. People
like the cardinal for its look.

Last night I
thought I might create the lace effect I want for the apron by painting cheap
doilies with Indian ink. I think I might love that.

•

This morning:
Shock and flaw! The text is too large. (See
the photo above.) It’s too large for the design I had in mind but I’ve done
some editing and I may be able to save this version for use in the show. I’m
disappointed in the design adjustment I have to make; It’s sad because this is
my favourite item.

But I know that
people don’t see my disappointments. I could call this show Plan B because so
much of what will be on view is exactly that. But people like my outcomes and I
think the apron will have impact if they read the story. O course,
for a favourite, the story feels particularly important.